Preventing Cervical Cancer

Each year, Dr. Miskell donates several weeks of her time to a group called PINCC. In a world where over 1,450 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer daily, and where half will not survive, it’s vital to teach healthcare workers in developing nations how to detect and treat this preventable disease.

PINCC sends small groups of volunteers to these locations to teach healthcare providers how to use donated equipment to screen women for and treat cervical dysplasia, one of the first signs of cervical cancer. These methods are up to 90 percent effective in halting the growth of the disease.

Dr. Miskell is the Medical Director of the organization, and has had the honor of traveling to underdeveloped areas of Africa and South America dozens of times over the past ten years to help bring education and equipment to remote areas of the world. She says, “Cervical cancer is a completely preventable disease but it is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women ages 20 to 60 in underdeveloped countries. The women in these areas have no routine screening. We are teaching healthcare providers simple protocols that can save these women’s lives.”

You can help by volunteering with PINCC; you don’t even have to be a medical professional. There is also a “Donate” tab at the top of the PINCC website.

Another way you can help prevent cervical cancer is to talk to your doctor about how often you should be tested for cervical dysplasia. Dr. Miskell's highly trained staff of Nurse Practitioners perform routine gynecological testing in the Austin, New Braunfels, Boerne & San Antonio offices.

Call Focus Total Health today at 210.305.5075 to schedule an appointment.